Searching for Virtual World Objects

Abstract

Systems and methods for searching for objects located in a virtual world include having a virtual construct such as a bot crawl the virtual world by moving from place to place. Object information is collected about the objects associated with the place and the object information is stored in a searchable database. Users can search the database for objects in the virtual world. The information can be further filtered or classified to aid in searching.

1 . A method of searching a virtual world for objects, the method comprising
 providing a virtual construct capable of existence within the virtual world, wherein the virtual world has at least three dimensions;   instructing the virtual construct to search for objects according to a search criteria;   moving the virtual construct to a place within the virtual world, wherein the place is at least defined by a finite two-dimensional area within the virtual world;   allowing the virtual construct to obtain object information relating to a plurality of objects within the place that match the search criteria;   storing at least some of the object information in a searchable database; and   providing a computer interface through which a user can submit an object query to the searchable database to search for objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the virtual construct to obtain object information includes instructing the virtual construct to obtain object information external to the virtual world. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the object information resides on an Internet accessible site that is unaffiliated with an owner of the virtual world. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the virtual construct to the place includes migrating the virtual construct to a centroid of a cluster of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the virtual construct to the place includes placing the virtual object at a Z-position other than ground level, and wherein the place is defined by a finite three-dimensional area within the virtual world. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search criteria includes a programmed path used to guide the virtual construct in the step of moving the virtual construct to the place. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the object to obtain object information includes establishing a communication between the virtual construct and at least one of the plurality of objects via a robot information control protocol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting a result set to the user in response to the object query where the result set is ranked. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising ranking the result set according to an object popularity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the object popularity is calculated based on a Hidden Markov Model. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising ranking the result set according to a creator popularity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising ranking the result set according to a recommendation based on a preference of a social peer in a social network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising ranking the result set by a sales price. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing object information from the database based on the search criteria. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database is located on a computer system unaffiliated with an owner of the virtual world. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object information comprises an image, an attribute, and an object name. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising classifying the place as a function of a ratio of objects having the attribute to objects lacking the attribute. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the place is classified as a commercial zone based upon a minimum threshold number of objects for sale within the place. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attribute includes a creator defined attribute defined by a creator of an object of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising validating at least one of the plurality of objects as an authorized object. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising instructing the at least one of the plurality of objects to perform an authorized action that is detectable by the virtual construct.